‘So Special’: Malcolm Marx Meets Young Cancer Survivor After Boks Win

• Malcolm Marx shared a touching moment with young cancer survivor Nathan Jonker after the Springboks’ historic win
• Nathan’s journey, from battling cancer in 2023 to meeting his hero, has inspired fans across South Africa and beyond
• The meeting was arranged with support from SA Rugby staff and brought joy to Nathan and his family at Sky Stadium

Springbok Malcolm Marx touched hearts when he met a young fan who had overcome cancer. The emotional encounter took place on Saturday, 13 September, at Sky Stadium in Wellington, following the Boks’ historic 43-10 win over the All Blacks.

Marx, who recently took responsibility for the 24-17 defeat at Eden Park on 6 September, shook hands with Nathan Jonker, a young South African Kiwi whose fight against cancer has inspired thousands.

Nathan was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and had watched the Rugby World Cup final from his hospital bed.

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At the time, the Springboks hooker sent him a video encouraging him to keep fighting and promising that one day they would meet. That dream was fulfilled two years later on Saturday.

South Africans online have melted with love

Reactions from South Africans and rugby fans online have been overwhelmingly positive. Social media posts included:

@lain:

"Aaaaaa so special."

@full:

"Incredible."

@michelle:

"Wow so beautiful thanks MM, so special."

@jame:

"So special."

@annabotha:

"What an amazing memory for that little boy."

@theresa:

"Very special."

@faichnie:

"I'm not crying, you are crying."

Nathan’s story reached a wider audience after Benton shared it with Keo & Zels, who highlighted it on both their podcast and SA Rugby Magazine platforms.

Following the feature, Keo got in touch with SA Rugby President Mark Alexander, who swiftly worked to make it possible for Nathan to meet his rugby heroes, despite the logistical hurdles.

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With support from SA Rugby staff, including Andy Colquhoun and former Springboks PR head Anne-Lee Murray, the video was passed along to Marx and his team.

The organisation went a step further by arranging tickets for Nathan and his family to attend the sold-out Castle Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks and providing access to the captain’s practice, where Nathan finally met Marx in person.

Go through the heartwarming moments below when Nathan met Marx in person.

Malcolm Marx's rugby career

Malcolm Marx has been a key figure in South African rugby for several years. He scored his first Springbok try in 2017 against France and has since played a pivotal role in major tournaments, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup victory and the 2023 edition.

In addition to his World Cup appearances, Marx represented the South Africa A team in 2021 during the series against the British and Irish Lions.

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Over the years, he has also featured prominently in numerous Rugby Championship matches and other international series, cementing his reputation as one of the Springboks’ most influential players.

Springboks hit by injuries

Briefly News previously reported that the Springboks have suffered serious injuries to key players, after the win against the All Blacks over the weekend.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that and said further medical assessments will be conducted to ascertain their severity ahead of the matches against Argentina.

Source: Briefly News